Removing Chlorine From Your Pond Water
Tap water is designed to be safe for us to drink. Therefore tap water contains the chemical chlorine. Chlorine removes bacteria and viruses that are harmful to us but unfortunately it isn’t intended to be safe for your garden koi pond.
It is this chlorine that will be detrimental to your Koi pond. That’s why whenever you plan to use tap water to help fill up your Koi pond levels you need to make sure you dechlorinate it first.
Why Is Chlorine Harmful To Ponds?
High levels of chlorine can kill Koi and other wildlife that reside in your pond even if the chlorine doesn’t kill the aquatic life in your pond it is still toxic enough to cause your fish potentially harmful health problems. Chlorine substances stress the Koi in the water and can cause a range of stress related health issues. Chlorine can also reduce the amount of oxygen that koi can get from the water by damaging the fish’s gills, the chemicals in the water can cause stress and, when ingested, can cause severe burning of the Koi’s insides. So even if you suspect there is only a small amount of chlorine in tap water this is still enough to be concerned about.
How To Test For Chlorine In Pond Water
You can test the chlorine levels in your pond water or the tap water you’re planning to use by using pond test kits. Smart devices like the eXact iDip 570 Photometer can measure exact water quality and produce detailed results on the water’s chlorine levels. They can tell you when there are at harmful levels so that you can keep your pond ecosystem safe and stop any health problems that may not be showing right now.
How to Make Tap Water Safe For Ponds
Dechlorinating Tap Water Naturally
As Chlorine is a gas component, some people advise leaving the tap water separate from your pond to evaporate chlorine into the air. This is definitely the cheaper option for dechlorinating tap water for your koi pond But this process is slow and not always as effective as taking extra measures to remove the tap water’s chlorine.
What are pond Dechlorinators?
Chlorine and chloramine are present in tap water, to make the water safe for us to drink. However, to Koi these chemicals are highly toxic and can burn their skin and gills leaving them stressed and more susceptible to disease and infections. Pond Dechlorinators clear the tap water of these harmful toxins, protecting your fish and promoting their growth and health.
Using A Pond Treatment Dechlorinator
Pond water treatments are one of the most common ways to remove chlorine from your tap water. Simply add the water you want to use into a bucket or vat first and then treat it with the dechlorinator. It is definitely a much quicker method than letting the water stand, and you can be in control of whether the water needs to be treated further. Alternatively, treat the whole pond volume if a large top-up is required using the hose. take a look below for more details.
The dechlorinator works by neutralising the water, removing harmful substances and making it safe for the pond life to thrive in. Using these pond treatments is ideal for small to large ponds, making them an excellent option for most!
Installing A Pond Hose Dechlorinator
There are also convenient fittings that you can attach to your garden hose that will dechlorinate the water as it passes through into the pond. Using high performance, active carbon the fitting removes harmful additives – including chlorine – and makes it safe for fish and plants to live in.
It’s essential to consider your pond’s water volume before choosing the right unit. For example the Oase Inline Dechlorinator can safely dechlorinate up to 200,000 litres of tap water. However they’re still an easy hassle-free way to fill up your pond safely for your Koi.
Whichever way you choose to dechlorinate your tap water – naturally, chemically or mechanically – you must follow it up with another pond test kit to ensure it’s worked before filling the pond up. Regular pond testing is key to keeping the pond a safe environment for its inhabitants and ensuring there are no long-lasting problems.
Take a look at our full range of pond test kits available here at Cotswold Koi to enable you to keep your pond in pristine condition and protect your fish from chlorine burns.
What features should you look out for when buying Pond Dechlorinators?
It’s important to check that the dechlorinator you’re buying comes with enough to dechlorinate your entire pond water – owners of large Koi ponds may find that they need to invest in multiple pond dechlorinators. It’s also important to check what else the dechlorinator can remove, as you may be able to clear the water of multiple toxins at once instead of using different solutions.